Living a Life of Godly Integrity in Secular Vocations
Living a life of godly integrity in secular vocations involves demonstrating Christian principles and virtues within one's professional and daily activities, rather than retreating from them. This concept is rooted in biblical calls for believers to live righteously and godly in the present world [2]. The New Testament emphasizes that believers are to be "in the world" but not "of the world," a distinction that shapes how integrity is understood in secular contexts [7].
The apostle Paul, for instance, exhorts believers to "walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" [10]. This "walk" encompasses all aspects of life, including one's work. The aim is to live "soberly, righteously, and godly" [2], which implies that one's conduct in secular employment should reflect divine principles. This is not merely about avoiding sin, but actively embodying virtues such as "simplicity and godly sincerity" [8]. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, stresses that Christian doctrine must be "transfused into the breast, and pass into the conduct, and so transform us into itself, as not to prove unfruitful" [5]. This transformation should be evident in all areas of life, including one's vocation.
Historically, there have been different perspectives on the integration of faith and work. Some traditions have emphasized a separation, suggesting that a life dedicated to God might require withdrawal from worldly affairs. Thomas Aquinas, for example, discussed the "state of perfection" as involving a "perpetual obligation to things pertaining to perfection," often associated with religious orders that bind themselves by vow "to refrain from worldly affairs" to more freely give themselves to God [3]. This view, while valuing spiritual devotion, could imply that secular vocations are less conducive to spiritual perfection.
However, other perspectives highlight the importance of Christian witness within secular callings. Augustine, in On the Holy Trinity, speaks of the mutual supply of needs between "Christ's soldiers" (those in spiritual service) and "His other subjects" (those in secular life), where carnal things are supplied to the former and spiritual things to the latter [4]. This suggests a reciprocal relationship where all vocations, when lived honorably, contribute to the common good and God's purposes. The idea is that one's daily work, even if secular, can be a sphere for demonstrating faith and integrity.
The concept of integrity in secular vocations also involves a commitment to ethical conduct and a rejection of worldly lusts and ungodliness [2]. Athanasius of Alexandria, in his Select Works and Letters, links the "true knowledge" of Scripture and access to "eternal joys" with an "honourable life" and a "pure soul" [9]. This suggests that spiritual understanding and growth are intertwined with one's moral and ethical behavior in all spheres.
The challenge lies in maintaining this godly integrity without compromising one's faith for worldly gain. Adam Clarke, commenting on Luke 9:62, warns against those in ministry who are "engaged in secular employments," suggesting that a person cannot properly discharge ministerial duties if their desires turn to "worldly profits" [6]. While this specific comment addresses the ministry, the underlying principle can be extended to all believers: one's primary allegiance must remain with God, and worldly pursuits should not distract from this devotion. The goal is to live "in consecration and righteousness before Him all the days of our life" [1]. This means that every vocation, when approached with integrity, becomes an opportunity to honor God and reflect His character in the world.
Sources
- Luke “Luke 1:75 (LITV) — in consecration and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.”
- Titus “instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; -- Titus 2:12”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the State of Perfection in General, Art. 5: Article: Whether religious and prelates are in the state of perfection? I answer that, As stated above (Article [4]), there is required for the state of perfection a perpetual obligation to things pertaining to perfection, together with a certain solemnity. Now both these conditions are competent to religious and bishops. For religious bind themselves by vow to refrain from worldly affairs, which they might lawfully use, in order more freely to give themselves to God, wh”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — OF THE WORK OF MONKS. (part 25): he speaks of the mutual supply of the need of Christ's soldiers and His other subjects,[5] on the one part of carnal things to those, on the other of spiritual things to these, to exclaim as he does, and as it were in repletion of holy joys to burst out[6] with, "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!" 19. As therefore the Apostle, nay rather the Spirit of God possessing and filling and actuating his heart, ceased not to exhort the faithful who had such substance, that nothing should be lacking to the necessiti”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 61: their divine Master. To doctrine in which our religion is contained we have given the first place, since by it our salvation commences; but it must be transfused into the breast, and pass into the conduct, and so transform us into itself, as not to prove unfruitful. If philosophers are justly offended, and banish from their company with disgrace those who, while professing an art which ought to be the mistress of their conduct, convert it into mere loquacious sophistry, with how much better reason shall we detest those flimsy sophi”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 9:62: Put his hand to the plough - Can any person properly discharge the work of the ministry who is engaged in secular employments? A farmer and a minister of the Gospel are incompatible characters. As a person who holds the plough cannot keep on a straight furrow if he look behind him; so he who is employed in the work of the ministry cannot do the work of an evangelist, if he turn his desires to worldly profits. A good man has said: "He who thinks it necessary to cultivate the favor of the world is not far from betraying the interests of God and his Church." Such a perso”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 17:16: 17:16-18 Being holy refers to purity gained by separation from the world, and living a life so aligned with God that it reflects his passions. Disciples are set apart by God, equipped by the Spirit, and readied by God’s word to enter the world without being victimized by its darkness.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 72: “Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward,” ( 2 Cor. 1:12 ), means not to call for the scrutiny of God, but compelled by the calumnies of the wicked he appeals, in contradiction of all their slanders, to his faith and probity, which he knew that God had indulgently accepted. For we see how he elsewhere says, “I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby ”
- CCEL (Patristic) “Athanasius of Alexandria, Select Works and Letters, section 154: §57. Above all, so live that you may have the right to eat of this tree of knowledge and life, and so come to eternal joys. Doxology. But for the searching of the Scriptures and true knowledge of them, an honourable life is needed, and a pure soul, and that virtue which is according to Christ; so that the intellect guiding its path by it, may be able to attain what it desires, and to comprehend it, in so far as it is accessible to human nature to learn concerning the Word of God. 2. For without a pure mind and a modelling of the ”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 4:1: I therefore - Therefore, because God has provided for you such an abundant salvation, and ye have his testimonies among you, and have full liberty to use all the means of grace; The prisoner of the Lord - Who am deprived of my liberty for the Lord's sake. Beseech you that ye walk - Ye have your liberty, and may walk; I am deprived of mine, and cannot. This is a fine stroke, and wrought up into a strong argument. You who are at large can show forth the virtues of him who called you into his marvellous light; I am in bondage, and can only exhort others by my writing”